Bighorn National Forest

Camping

There are many developed campgrounds throughout the Bighorn Forest. Camping can generally be enjoyed from June through September. Regulations permit camping in developed campgrounds for a maximum of 14 consecutive days. Advance reservations may be made for certain sites in specific campgrounds by calling 1-877-444-6777 or at http://www.recreation.gov/ . Most campgrounds will have sites available on a first-come, first-served basis, as well.

Camping outside of a campground is allowed on many areas of the Forest. You should consult with your local Forest Service office for regulations regarding this and other activities.

Reservations are not required for camping in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. However, it is required that visitors to the Wilderness register with the Bighorn National Forest, which can be done at major trailheads and in Forest offices.

Campgrounds and trails in the Bighorn National Forest are subject to severe winter weather conditions, year round. Due to this variability, the Forest cannot guarantee that all facilities will continue to be open throughout the season. The information contained in this web site will be updated as time and situations allow.

Please accept the challenge...

For your safety, obtain your drinking and cooking water from potable water sources such as well pumps or water hydrants. If potable water is not available, boil water from lakes or streams for 5 minutes or use other purification methods.

Campgrounds are expensive to maintain. Please accept the challenge to take home your litter and garbage, thus allowing limited maintenance funds to be utilized for other maintenance chores.

Camp Sites

There are many developed campgrounds throughout the forest that accommodate tents, campers and trailers. A private concessionaire operates a majority of National Forest campgrounds. During hunting season, the campgrounds that are not gated are available for your use at no charge, however no services are available. Please be prepared to bring your own water and to pack all trash out. Our waste dump station for travel trailers will also be closed. Please do not dump wastewater on the ground or in streams.

A permit is not needed to gather and use FIREWOOD for campfires used on the Bighorn National Forest. Use only dead or down wood - Please Don't Cut Live, Green Trees. A permit is required to remove wood or any type of forest product from the Forest.

Developed Campgrounds

Whether you're driving a motor home, pulling a trailer, or looking for a place to pitch a tent, one of the Forest campgrounds will have a spot just right for you!

A concessionaire operates campgrounds for the Bighorn National Forest. Most facilities have drinking water, refuse containers, toilets, fire grates and tables. Fees are deposited at campground entrances. These fees offset operation costs. Regulations are posted in each campground. Length of stay is limited to 14 days. A few campgrounds have extended stay sites. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash or under physical control at all times. Horses are only permitted at Hunter Trailhead.

Most campgrounds fill on a first-come first-serve basis. Plan to arrive by early afternoon to assure a site. Campsites may be difficult to find on weekend. Some campgrounds accept reservations through:

Recreation.gov
1-877-444-6777 (toll free number)
(518-885-3639 international)

Depending on weather, campgrounds begin to open in mid-May. Shortly after Labor Day services are curtailed - some facilities are closed, water systems are turned off and visitors are asked to pack their own trash.

For specific information on elevation, number of sites, maximum spur length, reservations and handicap access, click on one of the map links below. Clicking on a campground icon will give specific information about that campground.

Bighorn National Forest Interactive Campground Map

North Map - (112K)

South Map - (112K)

Dispersed Camping

Dispersed Camping (other than in a developed campground) is allowed at no fee and without a permit in most areas of the Forest. You are allowed to drive within 100 yards of an open road to set up camp provided it will not result in damage to the land, and the area is not signed otherwise. Dispersed horse camping is allowed throughout the Forest. If camping is not allowed, signing will be posted.

The following are some dispersed camping tips:

• Please camp at least 100 feet from lakes and streams.
• Please bury human waste at least 6" deep and 200' from water.
• Leaving any type of cache on National Forest is prohibited.

From June 1 to September 10 certain restrictions apply:

• Camping is prohibited within 1/4 mile on both sides of designated portions of Forest Road (FR) 26 (Big Goose), FR 125 (Little Horn), FR 16 (Black Mountain) and FR 137 (Porcupine Creek). Watch for signing.
• Camping is prohibited within 1/2 mile on each side of Highway 14 and 14A.
• Length of stay is limited to 14 days at any given campsite or immediate vicinity, which includes the leaving of any type of equipment, tents or trailers, from June 1 to September 10. After 14 days, you must move a minimum of 5 air miles. You may not return to the original site for 14 days.
• Storage of camping equipment for longer than 14 days is allowed only at designated storage areas.

Find more information on Rocky Mountain Region Campgrounds.

More information on camping can be found at the U.S. Geological Survey website.

Regulations

Please be considerate in your camping activities. Check the visitor information board in the campground for the rules and regulations pertaining to the use of Forest Service campgrounds.